NAVAL RIVALRY

Hokitika Guardian, 12 April 1929, Page 6

NAVAL RIVALRY

U.S.A. OVERTURES

fUnited Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright).

NEW YORK, April 10

The New York “Times” Washington correspondent states: "Washington has sent the following important dispatch relative to .armament limitations: —A substantial hope exists that anothei Conference on naval limitations will oventuate in the near future. This much may he said, at least, 1 resident Hoover’s administration will he willing to meet the British Government half way in any overture designed to reconvene the tripartite Naval Conference of 1927. It is now clear that the United States is willing to consider the discharging of any tonnage limitation by (he categories of the ships, and to .seekarrangements oil a basis of the classes df the ships and by categories that will take into consideration the respective requirements of Britain and the United States. This would permit a limitation by the types of cruisers and their displacement and armament, and would avoid any controversy over the fiee building of any types of cruisers within the total tonnage set forth for the general category of ships. The dispatch states that, in order to overcome the obstacle of the possibility of any nation obtaining an advantage in fighting strength, it may he necessary" that the British Government should adopt the principle that there never will lie. war between the two nations. It may he stated tjmt, while such a suggestion may ho scoffed at in British naval circles, the United States will he willing to offer encouraging reasons for its acceptance. The message further adds that the United States would agree that no professional men should serve as delegates to the Naval Conference, the problem being more a political than a technical one, and that, as a preliminary to such Conference, there shall he prolonged exchanges between the two Governments to ensure success.

The hope is expressed that the Gen ova Preparatory Disarmament Conference may offer an opportunity .for the experts of the two nations to get together and initiate a movement for a conference.